CHRIST A PRIEST-KING

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 11, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 24.

CHRIST A PRIEST-KING.

1. When Jesus Christ after His resurrection ascended, where did He go?

“Which He [the Father] wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places.” Eph. 1:20.

2. What is His position there?

“Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world [age], but also in that which is to come.” Verse 21.

3. What is His relation to the church?

“And He [the Father] hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” Verses 22, 23; see R.V.

4. What is His office at the right hand of God?

“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Heb. 8:1, 2.

5. Whose blood and sacrifice does He minister there?

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once for all into the holy places, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Heb. 9:12, more literal.

6. After what order is He priest?

“Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Heb. 7:17; 5:6, 10.

7. What was the character of the Priest-King Melchizedek?

“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, . . . being first, by interpretation, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.” Heb. 7:1, 2.

Note.—“Melchi” means king; “zedek” means righteousness; “Salem” means peace. But peace comes from righteousness; for it is written, “The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.” Isa. 32:17. A king of righteousness must in the nature of the case be a king of peace. Melchizedek was therefore a king-priest or priest-king; and Christ, being of the order of Melchizedek, must necessarily, as in the very nature of the case, be the Priest-King of righteousness and peace.

8. What is Christ’s work upon the Father’s throne?

“Thus speaketh Jehovah, saying, Behold the Man whose name is the BRANCH; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple [the church, Eph. 2:19-22] of Jehovah: even He shall build the temple of Jehovah; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His [Jehovah’s] throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” Zech. 6:12, 13.

9. What fitted and entitled Him to be priest?

His Sonship. “Christ glorified not Himself to be made an high priest; but He that said unto Him, Thou art My Son, . . . saith also, . . . Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. . . . Tho He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.” Heb. 5:5-10.

10. What demonstrated that He was the Son of God?

“Declared [literally, “determined”] to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Rom. 1:4.

11. By what was He entitled to live?

By His righteous life. “According to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead;” Rom. 1:4.

“In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.” Prov. 12:28.

“Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that He should be holden of it.” Acts 2:24.

12. What should be the desire of every soul?

“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.” Phil. 3:10.

13. When His priesthood is finished upon the “throne of grace” (Heb. 4:16), and the church is gathered out, what will He do?

“At His coming; then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father.” 1 Cor. 15:23, 24.

“When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory.” Matt. 25:31.

14. What promise does He make to the overcomer?

“To Him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.” Rev. 3:21. See also Matt. 25:34.